There are systems in place for parents, consumers and families to lodge concerns, grievances and complaints.

Specifically, consumers or their authorized representatives can utilize the Complaint and Fair Hearing processes in order to make their dissatisfaction regarding ineligibility decisions and/or denial of services known to South Central Los Angeles Regional Center.

Welfare and Institutions Code Section 4731 provides a mechanism whereby a consumer, or a representative acting on a consumer’s behalf, who believes that any right to which the consumer is entitled to has been abused, punitively withheld, or improperly or unreasonably denied by a regional center or service provider, may file a complaint with the regional center director. (This process is only to be used for complaints alleging that a consumer's rights have been violated.)

Under the Lanterman Act, found at Welfare and Institutions Section 4500 and following, consumers of, or applicants for, regional center services or their authorized representatives have the right to appeal any decision or action of the regional center with which they are dissatisfied or believe is illegal, discriminatory, etc. This right to appeal is generally referred to as the Fair Hearing appeals process. (This appeals process is generally to be used for service-related and eligibility disputes.)

An appeals information packet is routinely sent to consumers or the consumer’s authorized representative when the regional center proposes to take an action without the consumer’s or representative’s mutual agreement.

If you do not have information on how to appeal a decision, simply ask your service ccoordinator, his/her supervisor, or the Consumer’s Rights Advocate to send you an appeals information packet. For more information regarding fair hearings, contact:

Consumers and/or families who receive and/or apply for services under the Early Start Program may file for voluntary, impartial mediation or a due process hearing when they disagree with any action taken by a Regional Center with respect to identification, eligibility, evaluation, assessment or the provision of early intervention services. (This appeals process is generally to be used for service-related and eligibility disputes.)

Consumer and families can also lodge concerns, complaints and grievances regarding the denial of rights and/or services directly with SCLARC, the Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (above) or with Area Board X at: